The global rivalry is heating up again as the Chef d’Equipes from Team USA and Team Europe officially submitted their long lists this week for the Riders Masters Cup, the head-to-head team competition created by EEM and presented with EEF and with the support of Founding Partner Longines. Team Europe, triumphant in Paris in December, will look to sweep as the gold medal coach from Rio plans to bring over a roster of top talent to defend the title.

Robert Ridland, the American Legend whose underdog team nearly shocked the European squad in front of a packed French crowd, is hoping that on home soil, with some line-up changes and strategic learnings, that his roster of stars will reign victorious in the Riders Masters Cup.

Team USA Long List Revealed

Who better to lead Team USA into battle at the Riders Masters Cup in New York than hometown heroes and Olympic gold medallists McLain Ward and Beezie Madden?

Ward, who sits at No. 3 in the FEI Longines Show Jumping Ranking list, is most likely to lead the riders into battle with Madden (currently ranked #23) for Team USA as they take on some of Team Europe’s best show jumpers in an epic battle for the Riders Masters Cup.

With only 5 spots on each Team, which must include one under 25 rider, joining Ward and Madden as they battle for American glory will be two selections from veteran superstars Laura Kraut and Lauren Hough, or potential young guns Kristen Vanderveen, Andrew Ramsay, Jessica Springteen and Quentin Judge who would bring lots of energy to the team competition.

Local standouts, Adrienne Sternlicht and Lucy Deslauriers, join west coast rising star Jennifer Gates competing for the single Under-25 spot on Team USA.

Ridland and this more experienced squad, whatever the final makeup, are poised for vindication and ready to fly the flag high in what promises to be epic competition, action packed sport, and intense team rivalry keeping fans on the edge of their seats! This is an event not to be missed when the transatlantic battle continues and pins these two international showjumping super powers against one another in an epic battle of strategy and sport.

The final teams and the official draw for the order-of-go will be held on Thursday, April, 26, 2018 during the press preview on opening day at the Longines Masters of New York!

Make sure to follow the Riders Masters Cup Facebook page and tune into www.RidersMastersCup.com for updates and for the reveal of the Team Europe in the days to come! Don’t forget to share the love for Riders Masters Cup and the team you support on social media with the hashtags #WaveYourFlag, #RidersMastersCup.

Source: Press Release by Solenn Rispail / R&B Presse for EEM / Longines Masters

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Photos: © Sportfot for EEM